Welcome to the forefront of conversational AI as we explore the fascinating world of AI chatbots in our dedicated blog series. Discover the latest advancements, applications, and strategies that propel the evolution of chatbot technology. From enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes, these articles delve into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of automated conversational agents. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or simply intrigued by the future of interactive technology, join us on this journey to unravel the transformative power and endless possibilities of AI chatbots.
OpenAI has opened submissions for third-party apps inside ChatGPT and introduced an in-product app directory, in a move that turns its flagship chatbot into a broader software distribution platform for developers.
The San Francisco-based AI company said product developers can now submit their apps for review and publication within ChatGPT. Users will be able to discover and install these apps through a new directory accessible from the ChatGPT interface.
OpenAI first trailed the concept of apps for ChatGPT at its DevDay event earlier this year. The company now describes apps as extensions that bring external context into conversations and let users trigger actions such as ordering groceries, generating slide decks from outlines, or searching for apartments.
Developers gain a new route to distribute conversational services inside ChatGPT. Users gain access to a curated catalogue of apps that sit directly within the chat environment rather than separate websites or standalone software.
New app directory
The new app directory sits directly inside ChatGPT. Users can browse featured apps or search for any that developers have published. The directory is accessible from the tools menu. It is also available through a dedicated URL on the web version of the product.
Developers can create deep links from other platforms that take users straight to an app’s page in the directory. Once a user connects an app, they can trigger it during a conversation by mentioning it with an @ symbol or by selecting it from the tools menu.
OpenAI is testing ways to surface apps that may be relevant to an ongoing conversation. The company said it is using signals such as conversational context, prior app usage patterns and user preferences, while also adding options for users to provide feedback on suggested apps.
Developer tools
The launch includes a set of resources that OpenAI says reflect what it has learned since DevDay. The company has published best practice guidance on what constitutes a strong ChatGPT app. It has also released open-source example apps and an open-source UI library for interfaces built around chat.
Developers can use an Apps Software Development Kit, which is now in beta, to build what OpenAI describes as “chat-native” experiences. These experiences sit inside ChatGPT and connect conversational input with external context or actions.
OpenAI said the most effective apps focus on specific tasks, feel intuitive to use in a chat setting, and deliver clear value by completing real-world workflows that begin in conversation. The company also highlighted apps that support new experiences that exist entirely inside ChatGPT without a separate external workflow.
Documentation and examples sit in a central developer resource hub. OpenAI recommends that developers review the app submission guidelines early in the build process.
Review and rollout
Developers submit apps through the OpenAI Developer Platform. They can then track the status of the review process. Each submission includes details about Model Context Protocol connectivity, testing instructions, metadata for the directory listing and country availability settings.
Only apps that pass OpenAI’s quality and safety reviews are eligible for publication in the app directory. The company said the first batch of approved apps will roll out gradually in the new year, suggesting a phased expansion rather than immediate wide release.
Apps that gain traction with users may receive elevated placement. OpenAI said apps that resonate with users may appear more prominently in the directory or be recommended directly by ChatGPT in future experiments.
Early monetisation steps
At this stage, developers can connect ChatGPT apps with their own websites or native apps in order to complete transactions involving physical goods. ChatGPT acts as the conversational front end. The commercial transaction then occurs on the developer’s own properties.
OpenAI described this as an early phase of monetisation for the app ecosystem. The company is examining additional options that include digital goods. It plans to share further details once it has observed how developers and users build and use apps inside ChatGPT.
Safety and privacy focus
OpenAI has set app submission rules that cover safety, privacy and transparency. Every app must comply with the company’s usage policies. Apps must be appropriate for all audiences and must comply with the terms of service of any third-party content or services that they access.
Developers must supply a clear privacy policy with every app submission. OpenAI requires that developers request only the data that is necessary for an app’s function. The company said it will disclose what categories of data a new app may receive when a user connects it, and it will present the app’s privacy policy at that point.
Users can disconnect an app at any time through ChatGPT. OpenAI said an app immediately loses access to a user’s data once the user disconnects it.
Growing ecosystem
OpenAI framed the current launch as an early step in the longer-term development of an app ecosystem around ChatGPT. The company said it plans to enlarge the catalogue of apps, improve discovery inside the chat interface and broaden the ways developers can reach users and generate revenue from their work.
“This is just the beginning. Over time, we want apps in ChatGPT to feel like a natural extension of the conversation, helping people move from ideas to action, while building a thriving ecosystem for developers,” said OpenAI. “As we learn from developers and users, we’ll continue refining the experience for everyone. We also plan to grow the ecosystem of apps in ChatGPT, make apps easier to discover, and expand the ways developers can reach users and monetize their work."
